The land about Oropus between Attica and Tanagra, which originally
belonged to Bœotia, is now Athenian. The Athenians fought for it
continually, but got no firm hold of it till Philip gave it them after
the capture of Thebes. The city is near the sea and has played no great
part in history: about 12 stades from it is the temple of Amphiaraus.
And it is said that, when Amphiaraus fled from Thebes, the earth opened
and swallowed up him and his chariot: but it did not they say happen
here but at a place called Harma (_Chariot_), on the way from Thebes to
Chalcis. And the Oropians first made Amphiaraus a god, and since all
the Greeks have so accounted him. I can mention others who were once
men, who have honours paid to them as gods, and cities dedicated to
them, as Eleus in the Chersonese to Protesilaus, and Lebadea in Bœotia
to Trophonius: so Amphiaraus has a temple at Oropus, and a statue in
white stone. And the altar has five divisions: one belongs to Hercules
and Zeus and Pæonian Apollo, and another is dedicated to heroes and
heroes’ wives. And the third belongs to Vesta and Hermes and Amphiaraus
and the sons of Amphilochus: but Alcmæon, owing to the murder of
Eriphyle, has no honour with Amphiaraus, nor with Amphilochus. And
the fourth division of the altar belongs to Aphrodite and Panacea,
and also to Jason and Hygiea and Pæonian Athene. And the fifth has
been set apart for the Nymphs and Pan, and the rivers Achelous and
Cephisus. And Amphilochus has also an altar at Athens, and at Mallus
in Cilicia an oracle most veracious even in my day. And the Oropians
have a fountain near the temple, which they call Amphiaraus’, but they
neither sacrifice at it, nor use it for lustrations or washing their
hands. But when any disease has been cured by means of the oracle, then
it is customary to throw into the fountain some gold or silver coin:
and here they say Amphiaraus became a god. And the Gnossian Iophon,
one of the interpreters of Antiquities, has preserved some oracular
responses of Amphiaraus in Hexameters, given he says to the Argives
who were despatched to Thebes. These lines had irresistible attraction
for the general public. Now besides those who are said of old to have
been inspired by Apollo, there was no oracle-giving seer, but there
were people good at explaining dreams, and inspecting the flights of
birds and the entrails of victims. Amphiaraus was I think especially
excellent in divination by dreams: and it is certain when he became
a god that he instituted divination by dreams. And whoever comes to
consult Amphiaraus has first (such is the custom) to purify himself,
that is to sacrifice to the god. They sacrifice then to all the other
gods whose names are on the altar. And after all these preliminary
rites, they sacrifice a ram, and wrapping themselves up in its skin go
to sleep, and expect divine direction through a dream.